Process for producing highly branched polyisoolefins

Abstract

Highly branched polyisoolefines are produced according to the invention by the polymerization of isoolefines in a single-stage process, in solution, suspension or in the gas phase in the presence of bifunctional monomers which contain at least one group capable of cationic polymerization and at least one group which serves as an initiator for the cationic polymerization of isoolefines (inimer), at temperatures from +20 to -100° C., optionally in the presence of inert, organic solvents, and in the presence of alkylalumoxanes (coinitiator).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A single stage process for producing a highly branched polyisoolefin comprising polymerizing an isoolefin in the presence of at least one bifunctional monomer and at least one alkylalumoxane at a temperature of between about +20° C. and -100° C. in a media selected from the group consisting of a solution, a suspension, and a gas phase, the at least one bifunctional monomer including at least one group for (co)polymerizing in a cationic polymerization of the isoolefin and at least one group for initiating the cationic polymerization of the isoolefin. 
     
     
       2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the isoolefin is polymerized in the presence of one or more inert, organic solvents. 
     
     
       3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the isoolefin comprises a compound having the formula: ##STR4## wherein R is a C 1  -C 6  alkyl group. 
     
     
       4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the isoolefin comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of isobutene, 2-methyl-1-butene, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the isoolefin is polymerized in the presence of one or more conjugated and/or nonconjugated dienes. 
     
     
       6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the one or more conjugated and/or nonconjugated dienes comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of butadiene, isoprene, piperylene, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene, 2,4-dimethylpentadiene, 1,3-cyclopentadiene, methylcyclopentadiene, limonene, myrcene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       7. The process according to claim 6, wherein the one or more conjugated and/or nonconjugated dienes comprise isoprene, piperylene and/or 2,3-dimethylbutadiene. 
     
     
       8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bifunctional monomer comprises a compound having the formulas (I), (II) and/or (III): ##STR5## wherein F is a functional organic group from the series --CR 3   2  X, wherein X is a functional group selected from the group consisting of OR, Cl, Br, I, CN, N 3  and SCN,   R 3  is H and/or a C 1  -C 20  alkyl group, and   Ar is C 6  H 4  or C 10  H 8 .   
     
     
       9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the at least one bifunctional monomer comprises a compound having the formula (I), and wherein Ar is C 6  H 4 . 
     
     
       10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the at least one bifunctional monomer comprises 4-vinylbenzyl chloride and/or 4-isoprenylbenzyl chloride. 
     
     
       11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one alkylalumoxane comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a methylalumoxane, an ethylalumoxane, a butylalumoxane, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one alkylalumoxane and the at least one bifunctional monomer are used in a molar ratio of between about 1:10 4  and 1:2. 
     
     
       13. The process according to claim 1, which is a batch, flow or continuous process. 
     
     
       14. A single stage, batch process for producing a highly branched polyisoolefin, comprising polymerizing an isoolefin in the presence of at least one bifunctional monomer and at least one alkylalumoxane, optionally, further in the presence of one or more conjugated and/or nonconjugated dienes, at a temperature of between about +20° C. and -100° C., in a media selected from the group consisting of a solution, a suspension, and a gas phase, optionally, in the presence of one or more inert, organic solvents, wherein the process is a batch and the at least one bifunctional monomer includes at least one group for (co)polymerizing in a cationic polymerization of the isoolefin and at least one group for initiating the cationic polymerization of the isoolefin. 
     
     
       15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the isoolefin comprises a compound having the formula: ##STR6## where R is a C 1  -C 6  alkyl group.